Blue Gum High Forest

Blue Gum High Forest (BGHF) is found on a range of shale-influence substrates in deep clay soils, with a high average rainfall between 900 and 1300mm. In the Ryde area BGHF is found on south facing, steep slopes and gullies.

The most significant areas of BGHF can be found in Denistone, Eastwood and West Ryde. It is estimated that over 95% of BGHF in the Sydney Basin region has been cleared.

Critically Endangered Community

Blue Gum High Forest is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Due to severe felling of this forest for timber, only 0.9% of this forest is left in Ryde. 

Native Species List

Common Name 

Botanical Name 

Approximate Height 
Trees     
Sydney Blue Gum  Eucalyptus saligna  25-35m 
Blackbutt  Eucalyptus pilularis  20-30m
Grey Ironbark  Eucalyptus paniculata  20-30m 
Turpentine  Syncarpia glomulifera  30m 
Sydney Red Gum Angophora costata  15-25m 
White Mahogany Eucalyptus Acmenoides 20-30m
Small Trees     
Sweet Pittosporum  Pittosporum undulatum  8-12m 
Blueberry Ash  Elaeocarpus reticulatus  8-9m 
Hickory  Acacia implexa  10-15m 
Grey Myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia   
Lilly Pilly  Acmena Smithii   
Hairy Clerodendrum  Clerodendrum tomentosum 3-6m
Shrubs     
Coffee Bush  Breynia oblongifolia  3m 
Prickly Beard-heath  Leucopogon juniperinus  1m 
Narrow-leaved Orange Bark  Maytenus silvestris  1-2m
Mock-olive  Notelaea longifolia  2-4m
Paper Daisy  Ozothamnus diosmifolius  5m 
Yellow Pittosporum  Pittosporum revolutum  3m 
Elderberry Ash  Polyscias sambucifolia  1-3m 
Native Peach  Trema tomentosa  5m 
Ground Covers     
Blue Flax-lily  Dianella caerulea   
Kidney Weed  Dichondra repens   
Bordered Panic  Entolasia marginata   
Spiny-headed mat-rush  Lomandra longifolia   
Weeping Grass  Microlaena stipoides   
Basket Grass  Oplismenus aemulus   
Creeping Beard Grass  Oplismenus imbecillis   
Native Tussock Grass  Poa affinis   
Pastel Flower  Pseuderanthemum variabile   
Vines and Climbers     
Native Grape  Cayratia clematidea   
Old Man's Beard  Clematis glycinoides   
Wombat Berry  Eustrephus latifolius   
Small-leaf glycine  Glycine microphylla   
Wonga Wonga Vine  Pandorea pandorana   
Bearded Tylophora  Tylophora barbata   
Water Vine Cissus Antarctica  
 
Location in City of Ryde

Blue gum high forest map

 

 

Related information

Saline Wetlands

Sandstone Geology

Shale Geology

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